The Sound of Music - Q&A
Thinking about the TextI. Tick the right answer.
1. The (shehnai, pungi) was a 'reeded noisemaker.'
Answer: pungi
2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
Answer: A barber
3. Bismillah Khan's paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians).
Answer: professional musicians
4. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan).
Answer: Ali Bux
5. Bismillah Khan's first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).
Answer: Afghanistan
II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan's feelings about the items listed below. Then mark a tick (✓) in the correct column. Discuss your answers in class.
| Bismillah Khan's feelings about | Positive | Negative | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. teaching children music | ✓ | ||
| 2. the film world | ✓ | ||
| 3. migrating to the U.S.A. | ✓ | ||
| 4. playing at temples | ✓ | ||
| 5. getting the Bharat Ratna | ✓ | ||
| 6. the banks of the Ganga | ✓ | ||
| 7. leaving Benaras and Dumraon | ✓ |
Explanations:
1. He explicitly said, "Teach your children music."
2. He called it "artificiality and glamour" which he couldn't come to terms with.
3. He refused because he couldn't take the Ganga there.
4. He played naturally at temples and called it a perfect example of India's heritage.
5. His eyes "glinted with rare happiness."
6. They were his "favourite haunts" and inspired him.
7. He said, "God forbid! Me, leave Benaras? Never!"
III. Answer these questions in 30-40 words.
1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi in the royal residence because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound. He considered it a "reeded noisemaker" rather than a musical instrument.
2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
A shehnai is a natural hollow stem pipe that is longer and broader than a pungi. Unlike the pungi's shrill noise, the shehnai produces soft and melodious sounds through its seven holes.
3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Traditionally, the shehnai was played in royal courts as part of the naubat (ensemble of nine instruments), and in temples and weddings. Bismillah Khan changed this by bringing the instrument onto the classical stage as a solo concert instrument.
4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1938 with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow. He soon became an often-heard shehnai player on the radio.
5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
He played the shehnai from the Red Fort on 15 August 1947. The event was historic because it was the day India gained independence, and he was the first Indian to greet the nation with his music.
6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
He refused because the student could not recreate the atmosphere of Benaras in the U.S.A. Specifically, Bismillah Khan asked if the student could also transport the River Ganga there, showing his deep attachment to his homeland.
7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.
1. He refused a permanent position in the U.S.A. because he could not live without the Ganga and Benaras.
2. When he was in Mumbai, he said he thought only of Benaras and the holy Ganga.
Thinking about Language
I. Look at these sentences... Complete the following sentences. Beginning with a to-verb, try to answer the questions in brackets.
1. The school sports team hopes _____________________. (What does it hope to do?)
The school sports team hopes to win the match.
2. We all want _____________________. (What do we all want to do?)
We all want to succeed in life.
3. They advised the hearing-impaired child's mother _____________________. (What did they advise her to do?)
They advised the hearing-impaired child's mother to consult a specialist.
4. The authorities permitted us to _____________________. (What did the authorities permit us to do?)
The authorities permitted us to organize the event in the park.
5. A musician decided to _____________________. (What did the musician decide to do?)
A musician decided to compose a new melody.
II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions and write them down.
1. the home of royal people (1)
royal residence
2. the state of being alone (5)
solitude
3. a part which is absolutely necessary (2)
indispensable
4. to do something not done before (5)
invent
5. without much effort (13)
effortlessly
6. quickly and in large quantities (9)
thick and fast
III. Tick the right answer.
1. When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again).
Answer: lives again
2. When a government bans something, it wants it (stopped/started).
Answer: stopped
3. When something is considered auspicious, (welcome it/avoid it).
Answer: welcome it
4. When we take to something, we find it (boring/interesting).
Answer: interesting
5. When you appreciate something, you (find it good and useful/find it of no use).
Answer: find it good and useful
6. When you replicate something, you do it (for the first time/for the second time).
Answer: for the second time
7. When we come to terms with something, it is (still upsetting/no longer upsetting).
Answer: no longer upsetting
IV. Dictionary work
Consult your dictionary and complete the following table.
| adjective | only before noun | not before noun | both before and after the verb be |
|---|---|---|---|
| indispensable | ✓ | ||
| impressed | ✓ | ||
| afraid | ✓ | ||
| outdoor | ✓ | ||
| paternal | ✓ | ||
| countless | ✓ | ||
| priceless | ✓ |
Explanation:
* Indispensable: Can be used as "indispensable tool" (before noun) or "is indispensable" (after verb).
* Impressed: Usually follows the verb, e.g., "He was impressed." (We rarely say "the impressed man").
* Afraid: Always follows the verb, e.g., "He is afraid." (We cannot say "the afraid boy").
* Outdoor: Always comes before a noun, e.g., "outdoor games." (We cannot say "The game is outdoor").
* Paternal: Always comes before a noun, e.g., "paternal uncle."
* Countless: Always comes before a noun, e.g., "countless stars."
* Priceless: Can be "priceless jewel" (before noun) or "memories are priceless" (after verb).
Speaking
I. Imagine the famous singer Kishori Amonkar is going to visit your school. You have been asked to introduce her to the audience before her performance. How would you introduce her?
Use your notes on Kishori Amonkar to introduce her to an imaginary audience.
Answer (Sample Introduction):
"Good morning everyone. I feel privileged to introduce our distinguished guest for today, the legendary Kishori Amonkar.
Born in 1931, she is the daughter of the great artist Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar. She learned the 'Jaipur-Atrauli gharana' style from her mother's teacher, Ustad Alladiya Khan, but she has since developed her own unique, individual style. Kishori ji is not just a singer but a thinker who approaches her raagas with the precision of a scientist and the devotion of a Vedic sage. Her soul-searching music has revived the study of 'khayal' singing.
She has been honoured with many prestigious awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padma Bhushan, and the Sangeet Samradhini Award. We are truly honoured to have the finest female vocalist of her generation with us today. Please put your hands together to welcome Kishori Amonkar!"
Writing
"If you work hard and know where you're going, you'll get there," says Evelyn Glennie. You have now read about two musicians, Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Do you think that they both worked hard? Where did they want to 'go'? Answer these questions in two paragraphs, one on each of the two musicians.
Paragraph 1: Evelyn Glennie
Yes, Evelyn Glennie worked incredibly hard. Despite losing her hearing by the age of eleven, she refused to give up on her dream of becoming a musician. With the help of percussionist Ron Forbes, she learned to sense music through vibrations in different parts of her body. She practiced with sheer determination, touring with a youth orchestra and later scoring the highest marks in the history of the Royal Academy of Music. Her goal—where she wanted to "go"—was to lead a normal life, pursue music professionally, and bring percussion instruments to the front of the orchestra. She succeeded brilliantly, becoming the world's most sought-after multi-percussionist.
Paragraph 2: Ustad Bismillah Khan
Ustad Bismillah Khan also demonstrated immense hard work and dedication. From a young age, he practiced for hours on end in solitude by the banks of the Ganga and at the temples of Benaras. He was so devoted that he invented new raagas that were previously thought impossible for the shehnai. His destination—where he wanted to "go"—was to elevate the shehnai from a mere wedding instrument to a respected instrument on the classical stage. He achieved this by performing at prestigious events like the Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort and winning India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.